The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-04
INDIAN METHODS.
why the Utes Do Not Fear the Result of an
Uprising.

Uprising
Correspondence New York Evening Post
travelled through parts Of Mexico and New
Mexico during the last Apache campaign, and
became somewhat familiar with the methods
employed by the Apaches to evade the soldiers
A little band of Apaches would swoop down from
and drive off his stock. A company of soldiers
were. of course. at once dispatched to the scene
and they followed up a trail for few days until
it was lost In the mountains Here the Indians
scattered. to be called together again by signal
fires. Single Indians stationed at different
points would kinde their signal fires which
were repeated and flashed from peak to peak
until every Indian within a radius of one hun
dred miles knew the exact Whereabouts of the
soldiers. 1t was easy to watch their movements
and while they were making long and tedious
marches to intercept the Indians some
point, the very Indians they were after
were perhaps swinging around, gathering
and concentrating close in their reAr, where they
could have days of uninterrupted ere the
soldiers came to n halt and took the back track
again. and so this was repeated and the
pagn kept up month after month. the Indians
always days in advance of the soldiers else
resting or following in their and commit
ting their depredations wherever they felt dis
posed without the least fear of the soldiers. or,
if by chance the soldiers did come close upon
them, all they had to do to scatter. each
Indian for himself. and gather again at some
point designated by signal fires r the present
Ute war continues and increases. and the. gov
eminent felt disposed to employ 300 picked men,
mountaineers and residents of this section. arm
the n and turn them loose. with but general
order, viz: ''GQ and fight these Indians indvd-
ually or collectively in your own fashion until
they hoist the white fag'' the would soon
end, and many valuable lives and millions of
money would he saved.
The punishment melted out to Indians who
have INDUCED n uprisings and massacres during
late years, If there has been any punishment at
all, has been mild that but few Indians fear
the result of uprising. They think that a
kind and considerable government will gently
chide, but not retalate upon them for atrocities
committed. In the case of the White-river Utes
they were really rewarded for that colo -blooded
massacre. ambush and war of 1879 When thew
tired of the war and found they to get the
worst Of it, they boeted the white flag and were
ready to come back to the 'Great Father and
be 'tgood children" again. The ..Great Father"
took them back. bought their reservation and
placed tho purchase money at interest to their
credit and gave them another reservation as
good for their purposes the old one and now
every Indian. great and small draws an annual
sum of money. which they never received before
and would not receive now had they remained
good Indians and had not committed that dark
deed of 1879. The Uinta Indians. who did not
join in that war. occasionally refer it with
savage humor and say. Guess we'll kill an
agent, and then the Great Father send us
money, too We too good-Great Father no like
'em too good Indian"